Honoka has various options, but recently opened in Iwamizawa. I went with my mom who loves baths. We arrived at 9 o'clock and when we were about to enter, they said we couldn't until 10 o'clock. Huh? Oh well, it's 23 hours then. If that's the case, make it 24 hours. They should clean at night or something. Well, we had no choice so we killed time at a nearby roadside station. When we went at 10 o'clock, the front desk was bustling! Well, with over 20 people lined up. There was a big basket-like sleeping area in the rest area! Fun. I couldn't help but take pictures of my mom as a model (lol). Alright, after checking in, let's go to the bath. There is a sauna made of wood called a barrel sauna in the outdoor bath here. You can enjoy it by pouring water on the stones yourself. Wow, it's fun. Next to it is a large barrel water bath! As a sauna lover, I'm in heaven. It's an endless loop of sauna and water bath. Then, we got hungry so we went to the dining area. Even my mom, who doesn't usually drink beer, is drinking beer. She's getting tipsy (lol). We ordered a large beer, burdock tempura, chicken tempura with tartar udon, and spicy hot pot noodles. The burdock tempura was crispy and delicious. Beer thief. The chicken tempura with tartar udon, my mom was eating it eagerly so I think it was delicious. After finishing the meal, she asked, "Oh, did you want to eat?" (lol). The spicy hot pot noodles had curly noodles and I felt like it wasn't spicy enough for me. But it was satisfying and delicious. After a short break, we went back to the endless loop. So good!

Opened on July 13, 2023, at the former Yurara site along the national highway in Kamihoromui, Iwamizawa, is the hot spring facility "Yudokoro Honoka" by the Honoka Group. The Honoka Group was established in May 1971 and has expanded its operations to areas outside Hokkaido (Chiba Prefecture). The restaurant on the first floor of Iwamizawa Onsen Honoka offers a unique payment system where you scan your locker key when settling the bill, which includes the bathing fee upon leaving. The restaurant operates with a self-service system for serving and refilling water. The location of Iwamizawa Onsen Honoka is along National Route 12 in Kamihoromui, Iwamizawa City, about 700 meters from JR Kamihoromui Station towards the center of Iwamizawa. It takes about 7-8 minutes to walk from JR Kamihoromui Station. I visited on a weekday in the daytime on July 19, 2023. I had been eagerly anticipating the opening of Yudokoro Honoka, which was previously Yurara, as I often passed by while cycling. Unfortunately, I was involved in a traffic accident where I was hit by a car just 8 days prior, but I still made my way here on my bicycle, despite the discomfort in my leg. After a 1-hour and 7-minute ride, I enjoyed a relaxing half-body bath in the open-air bath for a full hour. The hot spring water seemed to have a mild mineral-like quality, which was soothing for my skin. I then ordered Chikuwa Tempura Soba for 860 yen at the restaurant entrance. Despite the somewhat indifferent service at the entrance, the staff at the dining area were all friendly and welcoming, with quick service taking about 7-8 minutes. While waiting, I helped myself to some water and marveled at the large Chikuwa tempura upon arrival. The first sip of the broth was rich and full of bonito flavor, which surprised me. This was my first time trying soba at a Honoka Group facility, and I found the broth to be uniquely flavorful, with a strong soy sauce presence that felt somewhat Hokkaido-like. The tempura Chikuwa was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a satisfying texture. The soba noodles, however, were a bit disappointing, with occasional firmness and uneven lengths, possibly due to inexperience in the kitchen. Nevertheless, the noodles paired well with the flavorful broth, and the saltiness was perfect after sweating in the hot spring. To top it off, the delicious spring water added to the overall dining experience. As the facility had just recently opened, I look forward to trying out the bath and meal set deals in the future. Overall, it was a delightful experience, and I ended my day with another 1 hour and 20 minutes of half-body bathing before cycling back home for 1 hour and 9 minutes. A satisfying end to a memorable day.